The United Kingdom general election of 1970 was held on June 18, 1970, and resulted in a surprise loss of power for Labour under Harold Wilson, who was replaced as Prime Minister by the Conservative leader, Edward Heath. The election was also a setback for the Liberal Party under its new leader Jeremy Thorpe, which lost half its seats. The Conservatives, when combined with the Ulster Unionists, held a majority of 31 over all other parties.
Most opinion polls prior to the election had predicted a comfortable Labour victory, and had put Labour 12.4% ahead of the Conservatives. However on the day, a late swing put the Conservatives 3.4% ahead.
Party |
Votes |
Seats |
Loss/Gain |
Share of Vote (%) |
Conservative
|
13,145,123 |
330 |
+ 77 |
46.4 |
Labour
|
12,208,758 |
288 |
- 76 |
43.1 |
Liberal
|
2,117,035 |
6 |
- 6 |
7.5 |
SNP
|
306,802 |
1 |
+ 1 |
1.1 |
Plaid Cymru
|
175,016 |
0 |
|
0.6 |
Unity
|
140,930 |
2 |
+ 2 |
0.4 |
Independent |
39,264 |
0 |
|
0.1 |
Communist
|
37,970 |
0 |
|
0.1 |
Protestant Unionist
|
35,303 |
1 |
+ 1 |
0.1 |
Republican Labour
|
30,649 |
1 |
|
0.1 |
Independent Labour |
24,685 |
0 |
|
0.1 |
Independent Conservative |
24,014 |
0 |
|
0.1 |
Democratic
|
15,292 |
0 |
|
0.1 |
National Democratic (England) |
14,276 |
0 |
|
0.1 |
National Front
|
11,449 |
0 |
|
0.0 |
National Democratic (NI) |
10,349 |
0 |
|
0.0 |
Vectis National
|
1,607 |
0 |
|
0.0 |
Independent Liberal |
1,456 |
0 |
|
0.0 |
World Government |
1,016 |
0 |
|
0.0 |
Mebyon Kernow
|
960 |
0 |
|
0.0 |
Independent Labour
|
847 |
0 |
|
0.0 |
Total votes cast: 28,305,534. All parties with more than 750 votes listed. The Conservative figure includes 8 Ulster Unionists.
For the text of an alternative history where the Tories did not win the 1970 general election, see http://www.btinternet.com/~chief.gnome/
Last updated: 05-22-2005 00:29:01